Axioshttps://www.axios.com/top/Axiosen-usThu, 22 Feb 2018 05:41:50 +0000Apple looks to patent yoga calorie countinghttps://www.axios.com/apple-looks-to-patent-yoga-calo-1519277964-ac06d3ea-901a-4ead-b901-fb92e56881da.html<p>Ever wonder how many calories you are burning doing yoga? Well Apple has <a href="http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&amp;Sect2=HITOFF&amp;d=PG01&amp;p=1&amp;u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.html&amp;r=1&amp;f=G&amp;l=50&amp;s1=20180050235.PGNR." target="_blank">applied for a patent</a> for a way to do just that.</p><p><strong>Why it matters</strong>: The pitch for Apple Watch is being able to measure your exercise, whatever it is and people hate it when their form "doesn't count."</p><hr><p>Apple's proposal suggests using a heart-rate sensor, a thermometer to measure ambient temperature as well as motion-sensing.</p><p>From Apple's filing</p><div><em>A motion sensing module can collect user's motion data. In some embodiments, a hot yoga session can be detected based on measured ambient temperature. In some embodiments, a yoga type can be detected based on the motion data. In some embodiments, an energy expenditure model can be applied based on the determined yoga type.</em></div><p><strong>Standard patent disclaimer:</strong> Patents represent an idea that a company has but don't always mean something is coming to market.</p>Ever wonder how many calories you are burning doing yoga? Well Apple has applied for a patent for a way to do just that.

Why it matters: The pitch for Apple Watch is being able to measure your exercise, whatever it is and people hate it when their form "doesn't count."

Apple's proposal suggests using a heart-rate sensor, a thermometer to measure ambient temperature as well as motion-sensing.

From Apple's filing

A motion sensing module can collect user's motion data. In some embodiments, a hot yoga session can be detected based on measured ambient temperature. In some embodiments, a yoga type can be detected based on the motion data. In some embodiments, an energy expenditure model can be applied based on the determined yoga type.

Standard patent disclaimer: Patents represent an idea that a company has but don't always mean something is coming to market.

]]>Ina FriedThu, 22 Feb 2018 05:41:50 +0000https://www.axios.com/apple-looks-to-patent-yoga-calo-1519277964-ac06d3ea-901a-4ead-b901-fb92e56881da.htmlRubio takes new gun control positions in intense town hallhttps://www.axios.com/marco-rubio-cnn-town-hall-7089bc30-c930-47f7-bb53-2cd56c200e66.html<p>Sen. Marco Rubio was the lone Republican official to accept an invitation to participate in a CNN town hall with teachers, students and families affected by the mass shooting in Parkland Florida, and he faced intense questioning over his positions on gun control and NRA contributions.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong> Rubio expressed a new openness to certain gun control proposals. He didn't shift on two big issues — he won't support an assault weapons ban, and he won't pledge to turn down NRA donations. But he did shift on "age limits, mental health checks (HIPPA exemptions), gun violence restraining orders, and limiting the size of magazine clips," <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidJollyFL/status/966509893262954496" target="_blank">per former congressman David Jolly</a>. He also said he doesn't agree with arming teachers, which is something President <a href="https://www.axios.com/trump-on-ending-gun-violence-were-going-to-get-it-done-b619f0fe-360a-4427-a3aa-b898bc05542d.html" target="_blank">Trump advocated for</a> Wednesday.</p><hr><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Father who lost his daughter in the Parkland shooting presses Marco Rubio on assault weapons ban <a href="https://t.co/8PE9pzJAZe">pic.twitter.com/8PE9pzJAZe</a></p>&mdash; Axios (@axios) <a href="https://twitter.com/axios/status/966498970846580737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Student Cameron Kasky asks Marco Rubio whether he will pledge not to take any more NRA money <a href="https://t.co/kJi1Tot2YT">pic.twitter.com/kJi1Tot2YT</a></p>&mdash; Axios (@axios) <a href="https://twitter.com/axios/status/966507849277992961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Sen. Marco Rubio was the lone Republican official to accept an invitation to participate in a CNN town hall with teachers, students and families affected by the mass shooting in Parkland Florida, and he faced intense questioning over his positions on gun control and NRA contributions.

Why it matters: Rubio expressed a new openness to certain gun control proposals. He didn't shift on two big issues — he won't support an assault weapons ban, and he won't pledge to turn down NRA donations. But he did shift on "age limits, mental health checks (HIPPA exemptions), gun violence restraining orders, and limiting the size of magazine clips," per former congressman David Jolly. He also said he doesn't agree with arming teachers, which is something President Trump advocated for Wednesday.

]]>Haley BritzkyThu, 22 Feb 2018 04:00:00 +0000https://www.axios.com/marco-rubio-cnn-town-hall-7089bc30-c930-47f7-bb53-2cd56c200e66.htmlMichelle Obama, Hillary Clinton praise Parkland studentshttps://www.axios.com/michelle-obama-hillary-clinton-praise-parkland-students-1519264744-c9d4fffd-29ed-4f0a-a1da-300326a6e35d.html<p>After accolades for their bravery and eloquence from Oprah Winfrey and others, the students who survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting and have been advocating for gun control since have been praised tonight by Hillary Clinton and the Obamas:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m in total awe of the extraordinary students in Florida. Like every movement for progress in our history, gun reform will take unyielding courage and endurance. But <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@barackobama</a> and I believe in you, we’re proud of you, and we’re behind you every step of the way.</p>&mdash; Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleObama/status/966483852834287621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Parkland students, you have shown so much courage in standing up for truth, for your right to attend school safely, &amp; now against these disgusting smears. The good news is, it will only make you louder &amp; stronger. <a href="https://t.co/yclbV9i2UX">https://t.co/yclbV9i2UX</a></p>&mdash; Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/966454765466083328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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After accolades for their bravery and eloquence from Oprah Winfrey and others, the students who survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting and have been advocating for gun control since have been praised tonight by Hillary Clinton and the Obamas:

I’m in total awe of the extraordinary students in Florida. Like every movement for progress in our history, gun reform will take unyielding courage and endurance. But @barackobama and I believe in you, we’re proud of you, and we’re behind you every step of the way.

Parkland students, you have shown so much courage in standing up for truth, for your right to attend school safely, & now against these disgusting smears. The good news is, it will only make you louder & stronger. https://t.co/yclbV9i2UX

]]>AxiosThu, 22 Feb 2018 02:04:38 +0000https://www.axios.com/michelle-obama-hillary-clinton-praise-parkland-students-1519264744-c9d4fffd-29ed-4f0a-a1da-300326a6e35d.htmlPhiladelphia DA ends cash-bail for many non-violent crimeshttps://www.axios.com/philadelphia-ends-cash-bail-for-minor-crimes--de861133-b2fc-478e-8135-001d56802bc5.html<p>Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday said the city will no longer seek bail payment for a number of misdemeanor and non-violent felony crimes, effective immediately. Some of the 25 offenses that will no <a href="https://phillyda.wordpress.com/2018/02/21/larry-krasner-announces-end-to-cash-bail-in-philadelphia-for-low-level-offenses/" target="_blank">longer require cash bail</a> are driving while intoxicated, forgery and possession of marijuana. </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> This comes amid heightened political momentum in some parts of the country such as California, New York and Texas to reduce the use of monetary bail, which justice reform advocates have long decried as unfair to minorities and the poor who are disproportionately affected. Krasner said his move will not only "save the taxpayers money by allowing low-level defendants to maintain their freedom, but it will begin to level the economic and racial playing field in our courtrooms.” </p>Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday said the city will no longer seek bail payment for a number of misdemeanor and non-violent felony crimes, effective immediately. Some of the 25 offenses that will no longer require cash bail are driving while intoxicated, forgery and possession of marijuana.

Why it matters: This comes amid heightened political momentum in some parts of the country such as California, New York and Texas to reduce the use of monetary bail, which justice reform advocates have long decried as unfair to minorities and the poor who are disproportionately affected. Krasner said his move will not only "save the taxpayers money by allowing low-level defendants to maintain their freedom, but it will begin to level the economic and racial playing field in our courtrooms.”

]]>Khorri AtkinsonThu, 22 Feb 2018 01:41:54 +0000https://www.axios.com/philadelphia-ends-cash-bail-for-minor-crimes--de861133-b2fc-478e-8135-001d56802bc5.htmlPolice in Broward County, FL to carry AR-15 rifles on school groundshttps://www.axios.com/deputies-carry-rifles-florida-dbf592c9-df26-43a8-be6c-0031bb9e7347.html<p>The sheriff in Broward County, Florida, where 17 high schoolers were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has said deputies will be allowed to carry rifles on school grounds, the <a href="https://apnews.com/9acb148650b842b199e7d710b6141b35?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;__twitter_impression=true&amp;__twitter_impression=true" target="_blank">Associated Press reports</a>.</p><p><strong>The backdrop: </strong>At a listening session at the White House on Wednesday, President Trump <a href="https://www.axios.com/trump-on-ending-gun-violence-were-going-to-get-it-done-b619f0fe-360a-4427-a3aa-b898bc05542d.html" target="_blank">advocated for armed personnel</a> to be in schools as a way to prevent school shootings. </p><hr><ul><li>Per the AP, the resource officer at the high school "was carrying a weapon when the shooting happened last week but did not discharge his firearm." </li><li>When the rifles are not being used, they will "be locked in a patrol car ... until the agency secures gun locks and lockers." </li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><em><a href="https://www.axios.com/parkland-parents-white-house-cba6412d-997b-4ffd-9aa7-2adca20dd4f3.html" target="_blank">What the parents, students said at the listening session.</a></em></p>The sheriff in Broward County, Florida, where 17 high schoolers were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has said deputies will be allowed to carry rifles on school grounds, the Associated Press reports.

The backdrop: At a listening session at the White House on Wednesday, President Trump advocated for armed personnel to be in schools as a way to prevent school shootings.

Per the AP, the resource officer at the high school "was carrying a weapon when the shooting happened last week but did not discharge his firearm."

When the rifles are not being used, they will "be locked in a patrol car ... until the agency secures gun locks and lockers."

]]>Haley BritzkyWed, 21 Feb 2018 23:43:22 +0000https://www.axios.com/deputies-carry-rifles-florida-dbf592c9-df26-43a8-be6c-0031bb9e7347.htmlFather of Parkland victim: "We as a country have failed our children"https://www.axios.com/parkland-parents-white-house-cba6412d-997b-4ffd-9aa7-2adca20dd4f3.html<p>Students and parents who have been affected by gun violence from Columbine, Sandy Hook and <a href="https://www.axios.com/parkland-south-florida-school-shooting-new-normal-281917e6-1a09-45ab-aaf7-95b1639468aa.html" target="_blank">the latest school shooting</a> at Stoneman Douglas High School, among others, came face-to-face with President Trump on Wednesday giving emotional remarks and offering solutions to gun control in the U.S. at a listening session at the White House. </p><iframe src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/oVTdiEfM-AeXnLRNE.html" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen ></iframe><hr><ul><li><strong>Justin Gruber, student: </strong>"I'm only 15 years old...I was born into a world where I never got to experience safety and peace. There needs to be a significant change in this country." </li><li><strong>Ariana Klein, student: </strong>"This is not just Parkland anymore, this is America, this is every student in every city." </li><li><strong>Father of Parkland student Justin Gruber:</strong> "If he's not old enough to buy a beer, he shouldn't be old enough to buy a gun."</li><li><strong>Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was killed: </strong>"We as a country failed our children...I can't get on a plane with a bottle of water, but some animal could walk into a school and shoot our children."</li><li><strong>Samuel Zeif, student: </strong>"I can't feel comfortable in my country, knowing that people...are ever going to feel like this. I want to feel safe at school."</li><li><strong>Mayor of Parkland, Florida</strong>, Christine Hunschofsky, told President Trump that "we have to at some point care enough and be strong enough to come up with solutions" to gun violence."</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><em><a href="https://www.axios.com/trump-on-ending-gun-violence-were-going-to-get-it-done-b619f0fe-360a-4427-a3aa-b898bc05542d.html" target="_blank">Trump on ending gun violence: "We're going to get it done."</a></em></p>Students and parents who have been affected by gun violence from Columbine, Sandy Hook and the latest school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, among others, came face-to-face with President Trump on Wednesday giving emotional remarks and offering solutions to gun control in the U.S. at a listening session at the White House.

Justin Gruber, student: "I'm only 15 years old...I was born into a world where I never got to experience safety and peace. There needs to be a significant change in this country."

Ariana Klein, student: "This is not just Parkland anymore, this is America, this is every student in every city."

Father of Parkland student Justin Gruber: "If he's not old enough to buy a beer, he shouldn't be old enough to buy a gun."

Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was killed: "We as a country failed our children...I can't get on a plane with a bottle of water, but some animal could walk into a school and shoot our children."

]]>Haley BritzkyWed, 21 Feb 2018 23:02:59 +0000https://www.axios.com/parkland-parents-white-house-cba6412d-997b-4ffd-9aa7-2adca20dd4f3.htmlReport: More than 100 girls missing after Boko Haram school attack in Nigeriahttps://www.axios.com/boko-haram-nigeria-100-girls-missing-school-attack-1815b387-e603-4394-bea9-9f7aa6be2fbf.html<p>More than 100 Nigerian schoolgirls remain missing on Wednesday two days after armed Boko Haram extremists attacked a boarding school in a village located in northern Nigeria, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43122095" target="_blank">BBC reports. </a></p><p><strong>What happened: </strong>The school was raided on Monday, but many students and staff reportedly fled before the militants arrived. A state official said 815 students had returned, out of 926 who attend the school, the BBC reports. This attack <a href="https://apnews.com/fe896bdaf6c1432daa5e6f637b6a810e" target="_blank">comes four years after</a> the Islamic extremist group abducted more than 276 girls from the Chibok boarding school in Nigeria. Some escaped as part of a negotiation between Nigeria’s government and the group, but about 100 of the girls are believed to still be with their captors. </p>More than 100 Nigerian schoolgirls remain missing on Wednesday two days after armed Boko Haram extremists attacked a boarding school in a village located in northern Nigeria, BBC reports.

What happened: The school was raided on Monday, but many students and staff reportedly fled before the militants arrived. A state official said 815 students had returned, out of 926 who attend the school, the BBC reports. This attack comes four years after the Islamic extremist group abducted more than 276 girls from the Chibok boarding school in Nigeria. Some escaped as part of a negotiation between Nigeria’s government and the group, but about 100 of the girls are believed to still be with their captors.

]]>Khorri AtkinsonWed, 21 Feb 2018 22:24:47 +0000https://www.axios.com/boko-haram-nigeria-100-girls-missing-school-attack-1815b387-e603-4394-bea9-9f7aa6be2fbf.htmlWhat happens in an age of "peak human"https://www.axios.com/if-we-have-rea-1519250553-7501e46d-8b75-444d-bd80-31c4925cc225.html<p>Earth will have almost 10 billion people by 2050, <a href="http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2017/06/world-population-projected-to-reach-9-8-billion-in-2050-and-11-2-billion-in-2100-says-un/" target="_blank">according to the United Nations</a>, and yet another billion by the turn of the century, creating a substrate of tension under climate change, aging, and automation. But Vienna-based demographers say these forecasts overstate the population trend. Instead, they say, we are headed for a population plateau and decline — in short, "peak human."</p><hr><p><strong>Why it matters</strong>: The basis of modern economics is how to manage crisis and progress for a fast-growing human population. But for several years, researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis <a href="http://blog.iiasa.ac.at/2014/09/23/9-billion-or-11-billion-the-research-behind-new-population-projections/" target="_blank">have been saying that</a> while the human population will balloon to 9.5 billion people by 2070, it will peak there, and decline below 9 billion by the end of the century. </p><ul><li><strong>That is <em>2.3 billion fewer</em> than</strong> the U.N. forecast. And if IIASA is right, the function of future experts will revolve around how to manage during population shrinkage.</li></ul><p><strong>What's behind the contrarian forecast</strong>: The lead IIASA researchers, Samir KC and Wolfgang Fengler, have said the key difference in the forecasts is educated women. In countries like India and Nigeria, female literacy will rise and mute the population surge forecast by the U.N. (they explain <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2015/09/04/will-the-world-reach-10-billion-people/" target="_blank">in this piece at Brookings</a>). In Nigeria, for example, they say, the population will triple to 576 million by 2100, but that it won't quadruple to 794 million, as the U.N. projects. </p><ul><li><strong>Jesus Crespo Cuaresma, </strong>who teaches economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, tells Axios that, if IIASA is right, one enormous potential benefit is that per capita wealth can improve without an increase in production. </li><li><strong>"We can be richer</strong> without having to produce more," he said. "You can get people out of poverty without harming the environment."</li><li><strong>Cuaresma foresees much more</strong> attention to environmental quality, simply because wealth will rise, and with it a demand for better air and water. </li></ul><p><strong>On the disadvantageous side,</strong> the world will be aging while it is shrinking, and hence the concentration of elderly people will be greater than already forecast. As of now, <a href="http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/ageing/" target="_blank">the U.N. forecasts</a> that the number of people 60 or older in the world will double by 2050 and more than triple by 2100, rising to 3.1 billion people. </p><ul><li>That raises the question of who will care for the elderly, and how it will be funded when the working-age population will be smaller proportionally.</li></ul>Earth will have almost 10 billion people by 2050, according to the United Nations, and yet another billion by the turn of the century, creating a substrate of tension under climate change, aging, and automation. But Vienna-based demographers say these forecasts overstate the population trend. Instead, they say, we are headed for a population plateau and decline — in short, "peak human."

Why it matters: The basis of modern economics is how to manage crisis and progress for a fast-growing human population. But for several years, researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis have been saying that while the human population will balloon to 9.5 billion people by 2070, it will peak there, and decline below 9 billion by the end of the century.

That is 2.3 billion fewer than the U.N. forecast. And if IIASA is right, the function of future experts will revolve around how to manage during population shrinkage.

What's behind the contrarian forecast: The lead IIASA researchers, Samir KC and Wolfgang Fengler, have said the key difference in the forecasts is educated women. In countries like India and Nigeria, female literacy will rise and mute the population surge forecast by the U.N. (they explain in this piece at Brookings). In Nigeria, for example, they say, the population will triple to 576 million by 2100, but that it won't quadruple to 794 million, as the U.N. projects.

Jesus Crespo Cuaresma, who teaches economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, tells Axios that, if IIASA is right, one enormous potential benefit is that per capita wealth can improve without an increase in production.

"We can be richer without having to produce more," he said. "You can get people out of poverty without harming the environment."

Cuaresma foresees much more attention to environmental quality, simply because wealth will rise, and with it a demand for better air and water.

On the disadvantageous side, the world will be aging while it is shrinking, and hence the concentration of elderly people will be greater than already forecast. As of now, the U.N. forecasts that the number of people 60 or older in the world will double by 2050 and more than triple by 2100, rising to 3.1 billion people.

That raises the question of who will care for the elderly, and how it will be funded when the working-age population will be smaller proportionally.

]]>Steve LeVineWed, 21 Feb 2018 22:12:55 +0000https://www.axios.com/if-we-have-rea-1519250553-7501e46d-8b75-444d-bd80-31c4925cc225.htmlTrump on ending gun violence: "We're going to get it done"https://www.axios.com/trump-on-ending-gun-violence-were-going-to-get-it-done-b619f0fe-360a-4427-a3aa-b898bc05542d.html<p>President Trump hosted a listening session on Wednesday with students and parents affected by gun violence across the country. He advocated for teachers to have a concealed carry license, as well as proper training, to keep guns on them while at school to prevent future shootings from happening.</p><div>"If you had a teacher who is adept at firearms you very well could end it very quickly."</div><div>Trump on preventing future school shootings</div><hr><h2>Trump's solutions</h2><ul><li>Trump added that Nikolas Cruz, the student who killed 17 other students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, "is a sick guy and he should've been nabbed many times."</li><li>He advocated for more background checks and a focus on mental health institutes, in addition to arming teachers saying if there were armed personnel inside the school, shooters "wouldn't go into the school to start off with, I think that very well could solve your problem."</li><li>"Two minutes after this meeting we're going to start working," Trump said. "It's not going to be talk like it has been in the past ... we're going to get it done."</li><li>Axios' <a href="https://www.axios.com/trump-raise-age-guns-bump-stock-gun-control-9dcc2cb2-74aa-4853-8342-71188ca6a3b5.html" target="_blank">Jonathan Swan reported</a> earlier Wednesday that Trump has been saying privately he supports increasing the minimum age to buy guns like the one used in Parkland to 21. </li></ul><p><strong>Secretary of Education Betsy Devos</strong> was in attendance as well and told the crowd that their "loss and trauma must never be in vain."</p><iframe src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/zabBP7Ok-AeXnLRNE.html" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen ></iframe><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/parkland-parents-white-house-cba6412d-997b-4ffd-9aa7-2adca20dd4f3.html" target="_blank">Students, parents and educators</a> made emotional remarks about their experiences with gun violence and <a href="https://www.axios.com/parkland-parents-white-house-cba6412d-997b-4ffd-9aa7-2adca20dd4f3.html" target="_blank">offered solutions</a> to the president as well. </p>President Trump hosted a listening session on Wednesday with students and parents affected by gun violence across the country. He advocated for teachers to have a concealed carry license, as well as proper training, to keep guns on them while at school to prevent future shootings from happening.

"If you had a teacher who is adept at firearms you very well could end it very quickly."

Trump on preventing future school shootings

Trump's solutions

Trump added that Nikolas Cruz, the student who killed 17 other students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, "is a sick guy and he should've been nabbed many times."

He advocated for more background checks and a focus on mental health institutes, in addition to arming teachers saying if there were armed personnel inside the school, shooters "wouldn't go into the school to start off with, I think that very well could solve your problem."

"Two minutes after this meeting we're going to start working," Trump said. "It's not going to be talk like it has been in the past ... we're going to get it done."

Axios' Jonathan Swan reported earlier Wednesday that Trump has been saying privately he supports increasing the minimum age to buy guns like the one used in Parkland to 21.

Secretary of Education Betsy Devos was in attendance as well and told the crowd that their "loss and trauma must never be in vain."

]]>AxiosWed, 21 Feb 2018 22:06:41 +0000https://www.axios.com/trump-on-ending-gun-violence-were-going-to-get-it-done-b619f0fe-360a-4427-a3aa-b898bc05542d.htmlReports of suicide attempts skyrocket in Puerto Ricohttps://www.axios.com/suicide-calls-skyrocket-in-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-f51a8642-189b-4cdc-b8a4-531915d71edd.html<p>The number of hotline calls reporting suicide attempts in Puerto Rico nearly tripled after Hurricane Maria hit the region last September. The suicide rate is now the highest it's been in four years, following a historic low in 2016, according to data from <a href="http://www.salud.gov.pr/Estadisticas-Registros-y-Publicaciones/Estadisticas%20Suicidio/Diciembre%202017.pdf" target="_blank">Puerto Rico's Department of Health</a> and reporting by <a href="https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/seguridad/nota/aumentanlossuicidiosenel2017-2400243/" target="_blank">El Nuevo Dia. </a></p><div>Data: <a href="http://www.salud.gov.pr/Estadisticas-Registros-y-Publicaciones/Estadisticas%20Suicidio/Diciembre%202017.pdf" target="_blank">Puerto Rico Commission for Suicide Prevention</a>; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios</div><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>It will take Puerto Rico years to fully recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria — it's already taken several months just to restore power and provide clean water to most of the island. Julio Santana Mariño, a psychology professor at Universidad Carlos Albizu, <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/21/17032168/puerto-rico-suicide-hotline-hurricane-maria" target="_blank">told Vox,</a> "when you add the stress of more than five months without power, without food, living patterns change ... it makes it harder for people to manage daily life." </p>The number of hotline calls reporting suicide attempts in Puerto Rico nearly tripled after Hurricane Maria hit the region last September. The suicide rate is now the highest it's been in four years, following a historic low in 2016, according to data from Puerto Rico's Department of Health and reporting by El Nuevo Dia.

Why it matters: It will take Puerto Rico years to fully recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria — it's already taken several months just to restore power and provide clean water to most of the island. Julio Santana Mariño, a psychology professor at Universidad Carlos Albizu, told Vox, "when you add the stress of more than five months without power, without food, living patterns change ... it makes it harder for people to manage daily life."

]]>Stef W. KightWed, 21 Feb 2018 21:11:34 +0000https://www.axios.com/suicide-calls-skyrocket-in-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-f51a8642-189b-4cdc-b8a4-531915d71edd.htmlTwitter limits automated tweets to curb botshttps://www.axios.com/twitter-limits-automated-tweets-curb-bots-7f9617ba-d6da-4a7d-9029-7d808a35a29d.html<p>As part of its effort to rein in spam and propaganda, Twitter said it will now limit how users and apps automate tweets and is also banning systems that simultaneously post, like or retweet similar tweets from multiple accounts.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> This is a major step for Twitter as it combats political propaganda on its platform and tries to get rid of bot accounts that help to "artificially inflate" the reach of a hashtag or topic through "inorganic" means. The move comes days after the Justice Department alleged that Russian operatives had heavily relied on social media platforms such as Twitter to manipulate the spread of fake, politically charged content. </p><hr><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "Twitter's tools are apolitical, and we enforce our rules without political bias," Twitter said in a statement about the <a href="https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/enforcement-options" target="_blank">new range of enforcement options</a>. "This is part of our ongoing, comprehensive efforts to make Twitter safer and healthier for everyone." </p><p><strong>Flashback</strong>: Last month, <a href="https://www.axios.com/twitter-670000-russian-tweets-1516401461-befa4bfd-0da2-42a0-b4da-4b409cc8abc7.html" target="_blank">Twitter said it notified</a> 677,775 people who followed accounts linked to the Russian government-backed Internet Research Agency accused of trying to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.</p>As part of its effort to rein in spam and propaganda, Twitter said it will now limit how users and apps automate tweets and is also banning systems that simultaneously post, like or retweet similar tweets from multiple accounts.

Why it matters: This is a major step for Twitter as it combats political propaganda on its platform and tries to get rid of bot accounts that help to "artificially inflate" the reach of a hashtag or topic through "inorganic" means. The move comes days after the Justice Department alleged that Russian operatives had heavily relied on social media platforms such as Twitter to manipulate the spread of fake, politically charged content.

What they're saying: "Twitter's tools are apolitical, and we enforce our rules without political bias," Twitter said in a statement about the new range of enforcement options. "This is part of our ongoing, comprehensive efforts to make Twitter safer and healthier for everyone."

Flashback: Last month, Twitter said it notified 677,775 people who followed accounts linked to the Russian government-backed Internet Research Agency accused of trying to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

]]>Kim HartWed, 21 Feb 2018 20:49:22 +0000https://www.axios.com/twitter-limits-automated-tweets-curb-bots-7f9617ba-d6da-4a7d-9029-7d808a35a29d.htmlNew sealed criminal charges filed in Mueller probehttps://www.axios.com/new-criminal-charges-in-manafort-and-gates-case-in-mueller-probe-1519241891-c93cf5ce-b8ad-4692-93bc-cfd29ad8adb8.html<p>New criminal charges have been filed in Bob Mueller’s case on Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates, according to sealed court records <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-manafort/fresh-u-s-criminal-charges-filed-in-special-counsels-manafort-case-idUSKCN1G52CK?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=topNews&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=Social&amp;__twitter_impression=true" target="_blank">Reuters</a> has reportedly viewed. The Special Counsel's office declined comment to Axios.</p><p><strong>What it means:</strong> The one-page document was included in a binder that is updated with new criminal charges, which could signal that Mueller’s office has just filed a superseding indictment replacing the indictment issued last year, reports <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-manafort/fresh-u-s-criminal-charges-filed-in-special-counsels-manafort-case-idUSKCN1G52CK?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=topNews&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=Social&amp;__twitter_impression=true" target="_blank">Reuters</a>. It is also possible this adds a new defendant to the charges filed in October, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/paul-manafort-rick-gates-new-charges-criminal-case-419685" target="_blank">Politico</a>. The judge can unseal the file if someone files a motion to do so.</p><hr><p><strong>Background: </strong>Manafort and Gates were indicted on money laundering charges and for failing to register as foreign agents last October. Both pleaded not guilty.</p><p><strong>Also this week...</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/dutch-lawyer-pleads-guilty-who-is-van-der-swaan-manafort-ad884304-c591-47d3-b179-9cedd5bd4534.html" target="_blank">A Dutch lawyer pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Mueller probe</a></li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/rick-gates-to-reverse-not-guilty-plea-manafort-8ee6aa11-54d6-4cd9-9ee4-47a63dbc0b1f.html" target="_blank">Gates is expected to change his not guilty plea to a guilty plea in days</a></li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/mueller-russia-probe-timeline-update-70433acd-9ef7-424d-aa01-b962ae5c9647.html" target="_blank">Every big move by Mueller</a></p>New criminal charges have been filed in Bob Mueller’s case on Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates, according to sealed court records Reuters has reportedly viewed. The Special Counsel's office declined comment to Axios.

What it means: The one-page document was included in a binder that is updated with new criminal charges, which could signal that Mueller’s office has just filed a superseding indictment replacing the indictment issued last year, reports Reuters. It is also possible this adds a new defendant to the charges filed in October, according to Politico. The judge can unseal the file if someone files a motion to do so.

Background: Manafort and Gates were indicted on money laundering charges and for failing to register as foreign agents last October. Both pleaded not guilty.

]]>Shannon VavraWed, 21 Feb 2018 20:48:53 +0000https://www.axios.com/new-criminal-charges-in-manafort-and-gates-case-in-mueller-probe-1519241891-c93cf5ce-b8ad-4692-93bc-cfd29ad8adb8.htmlBon Secours, Mercy merging into giant Catholic hospital systemhttps://www.axios.com/bon-secours-mercy-health-merger-1519243768-ebb52ec3-ddde-4c71-b7e9-5890d149a2e9.html<p>Mercy Health and Bon Secours Health System, two large Catholic hospital systems spanning seven states and with almost $9 billion in combined <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4384052-Mercy-Health-2017.html" target="_blank">annual</a> <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4384051-Bon-Secours-2017.html" target="_blank">revenue</a>, have <a href="https://bonsecours.com/baltimore/about-us/news/bon-secours-health-system-and-mercy-health-announce-intent-to-merge" target="_blank">agreed to merge</a>. The two systems expect to complete the deal by the end of the year, pending state, federal and church approvals.</p><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong>This is another major <a href="https://www.axios.com/ascension-providence-1512953723-fe3a4a31-977a-4204-8236-736a2d32f104.html" target="_blank">hospital system merger</a> and builds on the industry's insatiable appetite to <a href="https://www.axios.com/health-cares-merger-gold-rush-1513102098-04e59772-100c-40a3-aa78-377308bca175.html" target="_blank">consolidate</a> — with no clear benefits to patients.</p>Mercy Health and Bon Secours Health System, two large Catholic hospital systems spanning seven states and with almost $9 billion in combined annualrevenue, have agreed to merge. The two systems expect to complete the deal by the end of the year, pending state, federal and church approvals.

]]>Bob HermanWed, 21 Feb 2018 20:30:33 +0000https://www.axios.com/bon-secours-mercy-health-merger-1519243768-ebb52ec3-ddde-4c71-b7e9-5890d149a2e9.html14 teachers have been killed on the job since 2012https://www.axios.com/the-on-the-job-danger-to-teachers-1519243179-cd81d6c1-9890-4e37-89db-f98006232384.html<p>The three high school teachers killed a week ago in Parkland, FL, made it 14 teachers and staff who have lost their lives in school shootings over the last six years, according to a count by Axios using the raw data at <a href="https://everytownresearch.org/school-shootings/#3014" target="_blank">Everytown Research</a>. At least 15 more have been injured. </p><p><strong>Quick take</strong>: Nowhere on the planet have such shootings occurred with anywhere near the frequency as the U.S. While students and parents across the country are grieving with the Parkland victims and survivors, a root of the conversation since then is visceral apprehension of what could happen on any campus in the country, on any day. </p><hr><ul><li><strong>While posted in danger</strong> spots abroad as a foreign correspondent I, like hundreds of other reporters, was sent for week-long training in how to respond in violent situations such as shootings, bombings and kidnappings. </li><li><strong>I asked Randi Weingarten,</strong> president of the American Federation of Teachers, whether teachers should have similar training, in addition to the lockdown preparation they already undergo. She rejected the idea:</li></ul><p><em>"No one, even when you get combat training, you are not prepared for an assault on you. No one is going to be prepared for someone walking in with an AR-15 in a school, a church, and what that man did in Las Vegas," she said.</em></p><p><strong>The AFT has issued a</strong> call to action to oppose efforts to arm teachers. Guns are "absolutely antithetical to schools," she said. But something must be done to protect teachers, she said: "Teachers are naked. They are shielding kids. That is not what any of us or students signed up for." </p>The three high school teachers killed a week ago in Parkland, FL, made it 14 teachers and staff who have lost their lives in school shootings over the last six years, according to a count by Axios using the raw data at Everytown Research. At least 15 more have been injured.

Quick take: Nowhere on the planet have such shootings occurred with anywhere near the frequency as the U.S. While students and parents across the country are grieving with the Parkland victims and survivors, a root of the conversation since then is visceral apprehension of what could happen on any campus in the country, on any day.

While posted in danger spots abroad as a foreign correspondent I, like hundreds of other reporters, was sent for week-long training in how to respond in violent situations such as shootings, bombings and kidnappings.

I asked Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, whether teachers should have similar training, in addition to the lockdown preparation they already undergo. She rejected the idea:

"No one, even when you get combat training, you are not prepared for an assault on you. No one is going to be prepared for someone walking in with an AR-15 in a school, a church, and what that man did in Las Vegas," she said.

The AFT has issued a call to action to oppose efforts to arm teachers. Guns are "absolutely antithetical to schools," she said. But something must be done to protect teachers, she said: "Teachers are naked. They are shielding kids. That is not what any of us or students signed up for."

]]>Steve LeVineWed, 21 Feb 2018 20:26:30 +0000https://www.axios.com/the-on-the-job-danger-to-teachers-1519243179-cd81d6c1-9890-4e37-89db-f98006232384.htmlStudents stage walk-outs across U.S. in solidarity with Parkland studentshttps://www.axios.com/students-stage-walk-outs-across-the-country-in-solidarity-with-parkland-1d61dab6-7dcf-44d7-ab03-1049b6788f5d.html<p>High school and middle school students from across the United States staged walk-outs Wednesday to show support to the students of Stoneman Douglas High School. In the wake of the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida that took 17 lives, students have been appealing directly to lawmakers to reform gun laws.</p><p><strong>Below, </strong>a look at the nationwide protests...</p><hr><h2>Tallahassee, Florida</h2><p><strong>Parkland students </strong>arrived in buses at the State Capitol building late Tuesday night and organized a rally with thousands of peers today. Yesterday, the Florida House Republican majority rejected to consider a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the aftermath of the tragedy.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The scene at the Capitol in Tallahassee <a href="https://t.co/lcJJgRzPA3">pic.twitter.com/lcJJgRzPA3</a></p>&mdash; Steve Bousquet (@stevebousquet) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevebousquet/status/966361392583462912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><strong>Students across Florida, </strong>including at <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-florida-shooting-rally-20180221-story.html" target="_blank">Western High School</a> in Davie, Oasis Middle School in Cape Coral, and Coral Glades school in Coral Springs walked out in protest.</p><img src="https://images.axios.com/dlXG5WnhBvOA04RGi2IDlklrzAg=/2018/02/21/1519242096773.jpg"> <div>Students of Coral Glades High School, a high school less than four miles from Douglas, join the protest. Photo: AFP via Getty Images</div><h2>Chicago, Illinois</h2><p><strong>Students at Oak Park</strong> and River Forest High School in a suburb of Chicago also staged a walk-out, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-oak-oprf-walk-out-tl-0222-20180221-story.html" target="_blank">the Chicago Tribune reports</a>. In a note to parents, the school's principal said, "Our goal is not to stop students from walking out. They have a right to peacefully protest. Our goal is to ensure they are kept safe in the process."</p><h2>Montgomery Country, Maryland</h2><p><strong>Close to 1,000 students </strong>from three Maryland high schools walked out and took the train to Union Station to march on the U.S. Capitol. The students represented Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, and Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/scores-of-maryland-high-school-students-stage-walk-outs-take-metro-trains-to-washington-for-gun-reform-protests-at-capitol-watch/article/2649611" target="_blank">per the Washington Examiner</a>.</p><img src="https://images.axios.com/oEK3bSbOAXGdgscm55b1Koi00GY=/2018/02/21/1519242675436.jpg"> <div>Students march down Colesville Road in Silver Spring. Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images</div><h2>Minneapolis, Minnesota</h2><p><strong>Students from</strong> <strong>Washburn High School,</strong> Roosevelt High School, South High School, and Southwest High School in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs staged a walk-out and marched on their City Hall for gun control, <a href="http://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-high-school-students-to-walk-out-for-gun-control" target="_blank">local Fox affiliate reports</a>.</p><h2>Monmouth County, New Jersey</h2><p><strong>Students from high schools</strong> around the Jersey Shore area joined the national protest, with walk-outs at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Middletown High School South in Middletown, <a href="https://www.app.com/story/news/education/in-our-schools/2018/02/21/student-walkout-gun-control-schools-parkland-shooting/357601002/" target="_blank">according to the Ashbury Park Press</a>.</p><h2>Independence, Kentucky</h2><p><strong>At Simon Kenton High School</strong>, students walked out of class and marched for 17 minutes around the school grounds to honor the 17 kids and adults who were massacred in the Parkland shooting, <a href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/kentoncounty/2018/02/21/simonkenton-highschool-students-walkout-over-guns-today/358564002/" target="_blank">per the Cincinnati Enquirer</a>.</p>High school and middle school students from across the United States staged walk-outs Wednesday to show support to the students of Stoneman Douglas High School. In the wake of the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida that took 17 lives, students have been appealing directly to lawmakers to reform gun laws.

Below, a look at the nationwide protests...

Tallahassee, Florida

Parkland students arrived in buses at the State Capitol building late Tuesday night and organized a rally with thousands of peers today. Yesterday, the Florida House Republican majority rejected to consider a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Students across Florida, including at Western High School in Davie, Oasis Middle School in Cape Coral, and Coral Glades school in Coral Springs walked out in protest.

Students of Coral Glades High School, a high school less than four miles from Douglas, join the protest. Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Chicago, Illinois

Students at Oak Park and River Forest High School in a suburb of Chicago also staged a walk-out, the Chicago Tribune reports. In a note to parents, the school's principal said, "Our goal is not to stop students from walking out. They have a right to peacefully protest. Our goal is to ensure they are kept safe in the process."

Montgomery Country, Maryland

Close to 1,000 students from three Maryland high schools walked out and took the train to Union Station to march on the U.S. Capitol. The students represented Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, and Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, per the Washington Examiner.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Students fromWashburn High School, Roosevelt High School, South High School, and Southwest High School in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs staged a walk-out and marched on their City Hall for gun control, local Fox affiliate reports.

Monmouth County, New Jersey

Students from high schools around the Jersey Shore area joined the national protest, with walk-outs at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Middletown High School South in Middletown, according to the Ashbury Park Press.

Independence, Kentucky

At Simon Kenton High School, students walked out of class and marched for 17 minutes around the school grounds to honor the 17 kids and adults who were massacred in the Parkland shooting, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.

]]>Erica PandeyWed, 21 Feb 2018 20:22:38 +0000https://www.axios.com/students-stage-walk-outs-across-the-country-in-solidarity-with-parkland-1d61dab6-7dcf-44d7-ab03-1049b6788f5d.htmlDow climbs more than 230 pointshttps://www.axios.com/dow-climbs-more-than-230-points-1519241768-ad99d792-bf8f-4d99-9283-810aefdf1b6a.html<p>The Dow rose as many as 300 points Wednesday, before settling up around 230 points as of 2:45 pm ET.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The Federal Reserve released the minutes from its January meeting on Wednesday, which indicated that "officials see increased economic growth and an uptick in inflation as justification to continue to raise interest rates gradually," per <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/us-stock-futures-dow-data-earnings-fed-minutes-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>. </p>The Dow rose as many as 300 points Wednesday, before settling up around 230 points as of 2:45 pm ET.

Why it matters: The Federal Reserve released the minutes from its January meeting on Wednesday, which indicated that "officials see increased economic growth and an uptick in inflation as justification to continue to raise interest rates gradually," per CNBC.

]]>Zachary BasuWed, 21 Feb 2018 19:51:12 +0000https://www.axios.com/dow-climbs-more-than-230-points-1519241768-ad99d792-bf8f-4d99-9283-810aefdf1b6a.htmlTrump says his economic policies will get U.S. to 3% growthhttps://www.axios.com/trump-policies-will-lead-to-3-economic-growth-1519236369-1111005b-a6be-48fb-9fed-0830a0f4b220.html<p>President Trump's Council of Economic Advisers said today the U.S. economy could grow 3% per year with the "full implementation of the Administration's agenda," <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-02-21/white-house-says-us-could-reach-3-percent-growth-rate" target="_blank">the Associated Press reports</a>. Without the new policies, like an infrastructure bill and more regulation cuts, growth will be around 2.2% over the next decade.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Since 2000 the U.S. economy has averaged growth of less than 2% and only 6 presidents of the past 11 have seen economic growth averaging above 3%, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/25/how-trumps-3-percent-gdp-growth-target-compares-with-past-presidents.html" target="_blank">according to CNBC</a>.</p><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/GDPGROWTH-TRUMP/GDP?:embed=y&amp;:loadOrderID=0&amp;:display_count=yes" target="_blank">CNBC's chart of average growth rates for every president since Eisenhower.</a></p>President Trump's Council of Economic Advisers said today the U.S. economy could grow 3% per year with the "full implementation of the Administration's agenda," the Associated Press reports. Without the new policies, like an infrastructure bill and more regulation cuts, growth will be around 2.2% over the next decade.

Why it matters: Since 2000 the U.S. economy has averaged growth of less than 2% and only 6 presidents of the past 11 have seen economic growth averaging above 3%, according to CNBC.

]]>AxiosWed, 21 Feb 2018 18:27:36 +0000https://www.axios.com/trump-policies-will-lead-to-3-economic-growth-1519236369-1111005b-a6be-48fb-9fed-0830a0f4b220.htmlMelania Trump's parents likely relied on "chain migration" to get green cardshttps://www.axios.com/melania-trumps-parents-likely-relied-on-chain-migration-712f6798-17df-4e0b-8655-97e9d67fdb08.html<p>Melania Trump's parents are legal permanent residents of the U.S. and "likely relied" on the process President Trump has referred to as "chain migration," and proposed ending, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/melania-trumps-parents-are-legal-permanent-residents-raising-questions-about-whether-they-relied-on-chain-migration/2018/02/21/3b573df8-1687-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html?utm_term=.f4665f79c63f" target="_blank">Washington Post reports</a> citing "people familiar with their status" and immigration experts.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Trump has suggested limiting immigration sponsorship to spouses and minor children. Per the Post, the first lady's Slovenia-born parents most likely relied on the broader policies currently in place to obtain their green cards.</p>Melania Trump's parents are legal permanent residents of the U.S. and "likely relied" on the process President Trump has referred to as "chain migration," and proposed ending, the Washington Post reports citing "people familiar with their status" and immigration experts.

Why it matters: Trump has suggested limiting immigration sponsorship to spouses and minor children. Per the Post, the first lady's Slovenia-born parents most likely relied on the broader policies currently in place to obtain their green cards.

]]>AxiosWed, 21 Feb 2018 18:18:16 +0000https://www.axios.com/melania-trumps-parents-likely-relied-on-chain-migration-712f6798-17df-4e0b-8655-97e9d67fdb08.htmlThe Trump administration's vision for space: A commercial paradisehttps://www.axios.com/trumps-strategy-in-space-private-companies-spacex-1519227622-e851e8aa-f67a-417b-8d63-02ad68ec1227.html<p>Vice President Mike Pence, the chair of the newly reconvened National Space Council, outlined President Trump's space strategy at the council's second meeting Wednesday. Pence said that for companies looking to commercialize low Earth orbit, "the government will be a partner and customer, not a competitor."</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>SpaceX's <a href="https://www.axios.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-c908ffda-c5cb-463f-9874-aaa5614bcc9f.html" target="_blank">successful launch</a> of its Falcon Heavy rocket in early February put the spotlight on private companies who have stepped into the space race. Trump says he plans to send Americans back to the moon, and then onto Mars, and his administration hopes to accomplish these goals with the help of private industry.</p><hr><div>"The evidence is clear, while the government can blaze new trails into exploring the outer expanse of space, like all frontiers, it'll ultimately be settled by the dreams of our people, by the brilliance of our innovators ... There's no reason our government should stand in the way of private companies that are trailblazing."</div><div>Vice President Pence</div><ul><li><strong>Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross</strong>, who was also at the council meeting, announced plans to make his department a "one-stop shop" for private space companies. </li><li><strong>He's moving</strong> the Office of Space Commerce and the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office from NOAA to his own office, so he'll have direct oversight, Ross said. </li><li><strong>The council also </strong>recommends "creating a sort of space czar — an undersecretary of space commerce to oversee" regulatory functions, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/02/21/why-the-white-house-wants-to-create-a-commercial-space-czar-to-oversee-spacex-and-others/?utm_term=.b9c7daa7ab7c" target="_blank">the Washington Post reports</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/space-race-goes-private-32e58731-aec4-41a5-bdae-7522704e112f.html" target="_blank">The private companies in the space race</a> and <a href="https://www.axios.com/pence-americans-will-go-to-the-moon-and-then-mars-1513305989-c4e62b69-325b-42d0-9573-689562653b75.html" target="_blank">highlights from the first council meeting</a>.</p>Vice President Mike Pence, the chair of the newly reconvened National Space Council, outlined President Trump's space strategy at the council's second meeting Wednesday. Pence said that for companies looking to commercialize low Earth orbit, "the government will be a partner and customer, not a competitor."

Why it matters: SpaceX's successful launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket in early February put the spotlight on private companies who have stepped into the space race. Trump says he plans to send Americans back to the moon, and then onto Mars, and his administration hopes to accomplish these goals with the help of private industry.

"The evidence is clear, while the government can blaze new trails into exploring the outer expanse of space, like all frontiers, it'll ultimately be settled by the dreams of our people, by the brilliance of our innovators ... There's no reason our government should stand in the way of private companies that are trailblazing."

Vice President Pence

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who was also at the council meeting, announced plans to make his department a "one-stop shop" for private space companies.

He's moving the Office of Space Commerce and the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office from NOAA to his own office, so he'll have direct oversight, Ross said.

The council also recommends "creating a sort of space czar — an undersecretary of space commerce to oversee" regulatory functions, the Washington Post reports.

]]>Erica PandeyWed, 21 Feb 2018 17:59:17 +0000https://www.axios.com/trumps-strategy-in-space-private-companies-spacex-1519227622-e851e8aa-f67a-417b-8d63-02ad68ec1227.htmlSurvivors of Florida school shooting now targets of conspiracy theoristshttps://www.axios.com/survivors-florida-school-shooting-conspiracy-theories-2fe37163-d623-41a8-b5c2-23fa0c439424.html<p>Several of the students who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week have become targets of conspiracy theorists online and on social media — especially those who have emerged as advocates in support of gun reform.</p><ul><li>The theories — which range from accusing the students of being pretend "crisis actors," to working on behalf of the FBI — are far-fetched, but have spread rapidly online.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>As Parkland student Jaclyn Corin wrote on twitter, they're just kids. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are KIDS - not actors. We are KIDS that have grown up in Parkland all of our lives. We are KIDS who feared for our lives while someone shot up our school. We are KIDS working to prevent this from happening again. WE ARE KIDS.</p>&mdash; Jaclyn Corin (@JaclynCorin) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaclynCorin/status/966081269326020608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<hr><p><strong>Some of the conspiracy theories:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Donald Trump Jr. liked <a href="https://twitter.com/Bryson_M/status/965915303510122497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansascity.com%2Fnews%2Fnation-world%2Farticle201199494.html" target="_blank">two</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Thomas1774Paine/status/965757334881558530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansascity.com%2Fnews%2Fnation-world%2Farticle201199494.html" target="_blank">tweets</a></strong><a href="https://twitter.com/Thomas1774Paine/status/965757334881558530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansascity.com%2Fnews%2Fnation-world%2Farticle201199494.html" target="_blank"></a> claiming that high school senior David Hogg, who has been particularly outspoken about changing gun laws, is a "plant" that is being coached to say specific lines because his dad is an FBI agent. </li><li>Hogg responded in a statement to Buzzfeed news: "It's immature, rude, and inhuman for these people to destroy the people trying to prevent the death of the future of America because they won't."</li><li><strong>Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/sheriffclarke/status/965962123535966208" target="_blank">tweeted</a> that the students' efforts on gun reform has, investor and political activist, "GEORGE SOROS' FINGERPRINTS all over it." The theory was also picked up by <a href="http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/02/behind-various-anti-gun-movements-popping-parkland/" target="_blank">the Gateway Pundit.</a> </li><li><strong>An aide to state Rep. Shawn Harrison</strong> (R-Tampa) was <a href="https://twitter.com/richardcorcoran/status/966098029433454592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tampabay.com%2Fflorida-politics%2Fbuzz%2F2018%2F02%2F20%2Fparkland-students-come-under-attack-for-their-outspokenness%2F" target="_blank">fired</a> after <a href="https://twitter.com/learyreports/status/966074529201246209" target="_blank">emailing a reporter</a>: "Both kids in the picture are not students here but actors that travel to various crisis when they happen," <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/02/20/parkland-students-come-under-attack-for-their-outspokenness/" target="_blank">according to the Tampa Bay Times.</a></li><li><strong>Alex Jones, host of Infowars</strong>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYh-IL9SKvw&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">suggested that the shooting</a> was a "false flag" put on by gun control groups.</li><li><strong>Former Rep. Jack Kingston</strong> (R-Georgia) <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/21/politics/crisis-actors-analysis/index.html" target="_blank">told CNN's "New Day"</a>: "Do we really think — and I say this sincerely — do we really think 17-year-olds on their own are going to plan a nationwide rally."</li><li><strong>Rush Limbaugh<a href="https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/02/19/what-i-think-about-the-parkland-students-organizing/" target="_blank"> </a></strong><a href="https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2018/02/19/what-i-think-about-the-parkland-students-organizing/" target="_blank">said on his radio show</a> Monday: "Everything they’re doing is right out of the Democrat Party’s various playbooks. It has the same enemies: the N.R.A. and guns.”</li><li><strong>Conservative political commentator Dinesh D'Souza </strong>suggested the students' grief was "politically orchestrated" and "phony &amp; inauthentic." Two of his <a href="https://twitter.com/DineshDSouza/status/966068560178098176" target="_blank">other</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DineshDSouza/status/966078572321562625" target="_blank">tweets</a> also led to intense backlash, which <a href="https://twitter.com/DineshDSouza/status/966308659138527233" target="_blank">he ultimately apologized</a> for.</li></ul>Several of the students who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week have become targets of conspiracy theorists online and on social media — especially those who have emerged as advocates in support of gun reform.

The theories — which range from accusing the students of being pretend "crisis actors," to working on behalf of the FBI — are far-fetched, but have spread rapidly online.

The bottom line: As Parkland student Jaclyn Corin wrote on twitter, they're just kids.

We are KIDS - not actors. We are KIDS that have grown up in Parkland all of our lives. We are KIDS who feared for our lives while someone shot up our school. We are KIDS working to prevent this from happening again. WE ARE KIDS.

Donald Trump Jr. liked twotweets claiming that high school senior David Hogg, who has been particularly outspoken about changing gun laws, is a "plant" that is being coached to say specific lines because his dad is an FBI agent.

Hogg responded in a statement to Buzzfeed news: "It's immature, rude, and inhuman for these people to destroy the people trying to prevent the death of the future of America because they won't."

Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke tweeted that the students' efforts on gun reform has, investor and political activist, "GEORGE SOROS' FINGERPRINTS all over it." The theory was also picked up by the Gateway Pundit.

Former Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Georgia) told CNN's "New Day": "Do we really think — and I say this sincerely — do we really think 17-year-olds on their own are going to plan a nationwide rally."

Rush Limbaughsaid on his radio show Monday: "Everything they’re doing is right out of the Democrat Party’s various playbooks. It has the same enemies: the N.R.A. and guns.”

Conservative political commentator Dinesh D'Souza suggested the students' grief was "politically orchestrated" and "phony & inauthentic." Two of his othertweets also led to intense backlash, which he ultimately apologized for.